Grendel Presentation Chapter 5

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Transcript of Grendel Presentation Chapter 5

A Grendel Presentation Chapter 5 Joshua YangDoriane WeilerSherry FloresEphyne Canete Zodiac Lion/Leo "beast" "razor sharp tusks" "wrinkled paw" "Taloned Paw" LION Superior Being King of the Jungle Leo Dramatic Dignified Ambitious Generous Proud Motifs Characterization Satirical Techniques Figurative Devices Paradox: The Dragon triesto remove the newforth beliefin the Human's gods by Grendelby saying that there is none, buthis omniscient knowledge isgodlike in itself. Imagery “Vast, red-golden, huge tail coiled, limbs sprawled over his treasure-hoard, eyes not firey but cold as the memory of family deaths” (57). Hyperbole “He cackled so hard a brilliant tearlike a giant diamond…” (59). Personification “The eye was terrible, lowering toward me. I felt as if I were tumbling down into it—droppingendlessly down through a soundless void. He let me fall, down and down toward ablack sun and spiders, though he knew I was beginning to die”(61). “gleamed and glinted” (57).“paw and pointed” (59).“on his side, stretching up one vast,wrinkled wing for balance…” (59) Alliteration Assonance Simile Onomatopoeia “(nyeh heh heh)” (59). Repetition: Allusion Latin expression: “sine qua non” (64)-essential or necessary quality or condition; the use of this phrase emphasizes the Dragon’s philosophies and critiques of human tendency to acknowledge isolated facts. Anaphora Metaphor “This jug is an absolutedemocracy of atoms” (68) “his razorsharp tusks gleamed and glinted as ifthey too, like the mountain beneath him, wereformed of precious stones and metals” (57). “breathing hard withpeevish anger” (61). “Never never never touch my things…” (60). “Mere tripe… Mere sleight-of-wits.” (65) I AM GRENDEL Zodiac Sign- Leo, the Lion The dragon represents the zodiac sign of Leo. Like the lion, he believes he is above everyone else. The dragon’s knowledge is also all encompassing with his omnipotent view. The dragon dramatizes events with his explanation of the world and why Grendel exists. He serves to explain that the events that occurand what Grendel seems so concerned about are mere ripples in time, hardly worth noticing. Yet at the same time Grendel is an important catalyst to human progress. The Dragon The dragon has a cynical view of the world. He has an omnipotent view to all events, whichmakes him dislike people. He views the entire scope of time, from beginning to end. Due to this all seeing ability he chooses to remain distant from the human affairs. The dragon believes there is no point to trying to change things because either way he knows how things will end. Therefore, he chooses a selfish personal route only concerned with greed and the gold that he hoards. The fact that he bothersto share what he knows with Grendel is a surprise in itself, yet he reveals the importance of Grendel to the progress of people. Grendel In this chapter, Grendel appears as the ignorant but inquisitive child compared to the Dragon. Despite the rare chance that he is given with the privilege of the knowledge of the Dragon most of it goes over his head. He is not able to fully grasp the concepts that the Dragon is trying to explain. He is mostly concerned with how he fits into the scheme of the world and the shaper and the myths he weaves are believed. Grendel attempts to understand but the full meaning is still beyond his capability of thought. Grendel is transitioning between childhood and adulthood with the concepts he is trying tounderstand. Parody of BeowulfBlack humorHyperbole/UnderstatementInvective/Inversion Gold Gold is used to demonstrate the greed and power status of the Dragon. The Dragon with all his knowledge about the world and the outcome in the future is only concerned about the wealth and goldin his possession. The gold reflects the power he has with the knowledge in his grasp but also the fact that he is above everyone in terms of wealth. Gold serves as a power symbol and the dragon detests when Grendel touches his gold, the thing that the Dragon desires the most. Elevated Language Elevated Language is used to demonstrate the difference between the Dragon and Grendel. The dragon is so far above Grendel concerning intelligence that Grendel does not comprehend most of what the dragon speaks about. It highlights the fact that while Grendel may share some human characteristics, he is still not human. He is considered primitive compared to the Dragon. Elevated Language is also used todisplay the dragon’s status in the world. He considers himself above everyone and speaks befitting to his station. Theme Nihilism Superiority in Society Nature of Knowledge vs Wisdom Greed Fear Truth "Why?" frustration (pg 72)Piles of gold Dragon is elevated on gold pileWealthy but is he respectable? (cruelty)Grendel questions truth- "He could lie. He was evil enough." (pg 71) basic fact: the dragon knows everythingexcessively pontificating (pg 66)Grendel feels helpless, overwhelmed (pg 70)does not believe in "why?""knowledge is not cause"- knowledgeable, but excessively limited also"hollow" (pg 71) "...miser caught at his counting" (pg 58) "nyeh heh heh" and the gold worker motif Parallel between Grendel and Dragon, Unferth and Grendel Shaper (lies, unifying, understandable) versusDragon (claims truth, isolating, cannot understand) The dragon appears as a monster to Grendel as Grendel appears to be a monster to the people. Invective "They only think they think. No total vision, totalsystem, merely schemes with a vague... I could tell you a thousand tiresome stories of their absurdity..." (64) This section of Grendel is key to understanding the motivations of the Dragon. Gardner uses powerful language and syntax in conjunction to convey the Dragon's nihilistic views—and ultimately a revelation of a universal truth of humans. The passion exuding from the Dragon's diatribe is done to the effect that shows the actions and motivations of humans to be utterly meaningless and "mere tripe." Inversion: Grendel is at least partly human and the Dragon is a monster.However, the dragon is the one with the greatest understandingof the universe and of deeper philosophical meanings. As could bedescribed by Plato's divided line, while Grendel almost lives in the CDpart of the graph, the Dragon completely comprehends that of the DEsection. Thus, the Dragon is actually the most "human" while Grendelis the least. Black Humor "Even I will be gone. A certain man willabsurdly kill me. A terrible pity--loss ofa remarkable form of life. Conservationistswill howl." Humorous because he is making fun of death and not just any death, but his own death. By referencing "conservationists"something that would not be known in thesetting of the book introduces black humor. Hyperbole "Additional refinements: sensitive dust, copulating dust, worshipful dust!" Understatement!! Parody of Beowulf Perhaps write that Dragon is not the monster that is protrayed in the book and that Grendel is not that villain he is claimed to be? Grendel and the Dragon Paradox Dragon and Grendel